11-7, Wall Art

As you may have noticed, I have become a little obsessed with wall art lately.  Since I became aware of an amazing program that allows me to take sample photos of a client's room, create mock-up collections, shoot their session, then slide their actual session photos into the mock-up collections, I can't help but think that this is the *it* that I have been searching for.  It's my missing link in my photographic world of who, what, when, where and why.  THIS is why!  Photos of your precious family are sacred.  Life is short and in the drop of a dime everything can change.  You may say I am propelled by fear-- the fear of change-- but it's a force greater than that.  Whether it's the simple fact that your young children will grow, your parents will age, or the generation beyond will not always be here with us, this force merges with the reality that we have the power now to freeze these moments in time-- if only in our hearts, memories, and yes, our walls.  Our son may be a teenager now, but that doesn't erase the fact that at one time he was a little, blonde-haired boy who wandered circles in the sand in a different time and place.  Our 'baby' may be a full-fledged American girl now, but when we first 'met' her, she was only a vision on paper of a little girl in a far away land waiting for our love.  Why, oh why, would I want to bury these precious memories in a book or on a hard drive somewhere?  No, not me.  I want to see these memories come to life every day as I'm getting dinner on the table, sitting in front of the fire or heading out the door to play chauffeur.  Maybe today won't be an easy day, maybe I won't understand why my son won't do his math homework.  But you know what?  That's just today.  If I look on the wall and look at that little boy roaming the beach, I realize that it will all be ok because I remember how much adversity we have faced since then.  Maybe today will be a fantastic day.  Maybe when I meet my little girl at the school bus stop it may just seem like an ordinary event. But, when I come home and look at her photo on the wall I am reminded of all there is to celebrate in this life and how very lucky we are.  Yes, I am sentimental-- it's who I am.  Are you sentimental, too?  If so, let's take it up a notch and let me show you what I can do for you.  I promise, you won't be sorry.  I know this client, in particular, "LOVED" her wall art collection.  I must say, I love it, too!

The mock-up created to showcase a possible wall art collection.

The actual wall art collection hung in the client's home.

Think about it.  Are there aspects of your life, right now, that you wish you could freeze for posterity?

10-31, Self-portrait

As a photographer, I can think of no endeavor more humbling than a self-portrait.  You feel silly enough smiling for your camera on a tripod (over and over and over trying to achieve proper focus and a non-ridiculous pose while thinking, 'now I know this pose looks good when other people do it....').  Then comes the post-processing.  It's one thing to photoshop the wrinkles off of someone else's face, and entirely another to have to do it to your own.  'Where did those lines on my forehead come from? When did I get my mother's hands? What's up with my eyes?!'  I get it-- who cares how the lighting looks, good God look at my smile.  Ugh!  But, I go through this process every year.  I feel it  is necessary on several levels.  How can I tell people how to pose if I can't achieve those poses myself?  I'm comfortable behind the camera, and it's enlightening to feel what others must feel in front of the camera.  Oh, and I guess it's always good to let social media see that I, too, age, just like everyone else.  Time to update that profile picture!  

Hope you like this one, because you'll be seeing a lot of it!

10-8, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

For the 2nd year in a row, my family and I have attended the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta with friends.  Each year the experience was completely different, but there was one aspect that was exactly the same-- the enjoyment factor.  This year was extra special because our kids got to go on their first balloon ride together, and my husband and I got to simultaneously go on a ride in a different balloon together.  (How fun is it that the wife took our kids up in her balloon and the husband took us up in his, right?!)  It was amazing!  The fiesta is such a refreshing experience.  I really have a hard time putting words to it, but the one that keeps popping into my head is "awesome".  I do not, however, have a hard time putting the experience to imagery.  The experience itself is just as vibrant as the balloons.  I look forward to continuing this family tradition for years to come!

Me (picture left) with some of the crew. 

Our kids going up on their first balloon ride.

My son can never again claim, "you don't let me do anything!"
There they go!